Communication, interaction, and language, form the principle genetics of my work. An early exposure to emigrant cultures generated, in my psyche, a sympathetic perspective on social homogeny and the issues that exist, therein. Born and raised in a multicultural community, I often overheard conversations I was unable to translate. Eventually, I retained certain foreign phrases I heard repeatedly. I guessed at the meaning of words by observing their context. As a result, I created a multilingual edifice. It was flawed, but illustrated my humble attempt at social connection.
In addition to verbal exchanges, I was influenced by written language. Unfamiliar words, alien alphabets, symbols and characters, triggered my visual subconscious. The elegance of letters combining to form a line eclipsed their actual meaning or grammatical perfection. Spelling errors and malapropisms became products of effort, rather than mistakes, in my mind. It was underneath the dead weight of seemingly lax endeavors that I discovered an art form.
There is also a concession at play. I use materials that I am fluent with to present topics I do not have complete control of. I toy with my comfort zone by inviting interaction and by allowing others to influence what I do. Interactive scenarios flesh those early social experiences, as I tease out differences in order to connect. My work is not always mine, alone. Through this process I offer a chorus, conceding that my voice is not the only relevant sound. Michael Genovese, 2009
